Title of Research Project
Major
International and Development Economics
Research Abstract
Relaxing internal constraints of individuals at early stages of life is an approach that complements traditional policy interventions aimed to alleviate poverty. The Compassion International child sponsorship program focuses their work on the emotional, social, and spiritual development of sponsored children. This study uses age-eligibility as an instrument for sponsorship to investigate the impacts of child sponsorship on self-esteem, aspirational reference points, aspirational capital, reciprocity and patience. It also implements an innovative way of constructing summary indices using a method proposed by Anderson, M (2008). Results reveal child sponsorship does not have an effect on the sponsored children. In fact, sponsored children seem to reciprocate less and are less patience than non-sponsored children.
Faculty Mentor/Advisor
Dr. Bruce Wydick
Course
ECON 690, Graduate Seminar
Included in
Asian Studies Commons, Behavioral Economics Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Econometrics Commons, International Economics Commons
Does Child Sponsorship have a positive impact on the quality of life and social behavior of sponsored children? Evidence from Indonesia
Relaxing internal constraints of individuals at early stages of life is an approach that complements traditional policy interventions aimed to alleviate poverty. The Compassion International child sponsorship program focuses their work on the emotional, social, and spiritual development of sponsored children. This study uses age-eligibility as an instrument for sponsorship to investigate the impacts of child sponsorship on self-esteem, aspirational reference points, aspirational capital, reciprocity and patience. It also implements an innovative way of constructing summary indices using a method proposed by Anderson, M (2008). Results reveal child sponsorship does not have an effect on the sponsored children. In fact, sponsored children seem to reciprocate less and are less patience than non-sponsored children.
